From: les@jmdl.com (JMDL Digest) To: joni-digest@smoe.org Subject: JMDL Digest V4 #443 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: les@jmdl.com Errors-To: les@jmdl.com Precedence: bulk JMDL Digest Monday, October 4 1999 Volume 04 : Number 443 The Official Joni Mitchell Homepage is maintained by Wally Breese at http://www.jonimitchell.com and contains the latest news, a detailed bio, original interviews and essays, lyrics, and much more. ------- The JMDL website can be found at http://www.jmdl.com and contains interviews, articles, the member gallery, archives, and much more. ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- John the Revelator ["Eric Taylor" ] FTR songbook - paintings [MP123A321@aol.com] James Taylor Symphonic Tour 1999 ["Peter Holmstedt" ] Re: James Taylor Symphonic Tour 1999 (NJC) [TerryM2442@aol.com] Re: FTR songbook - paintings [Mark Domyancich ] Joni's Brilliance [Lisa Kowalski ] Chair In The Sky [Lisa Kowalski ] Re: Joni's Brilliance [Ginamu@aol.com] She's Come Undone(JC) [Lisa Kowalski ] Re: Chair In The Sky ["Mark or Travis" ] Joni listed at #5 in the top 100 women in "rock" on VH1 ["James A. Murray] Re: "Brand New Day" -- Sting's Latest Rips & Wrecks (NJC) ["Kakki" Subject: John the Revelator Mark mentioned: << NP-Dave Matthews/Carlos Santana-John the Revelator >> Omygod, Mark, I MUST hear this song! Where can I find it? E.T. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 06:46:17 EDT From: MP123A321@aol.com Subject: FTR songbook - paintings A recent post : <<1. For The Roses - the non-photo on the inside panel. Someone said that they finally realized that this piece of art was a horse's back end and tail. LOL. Take another look at it and you'll actually see Judy Collins smelling the roses. >> Then Catgirl replies: <> This is my favorite songbook so far, the Joni painting is so great on the cover. (Scans available). This one of the few songbooks without the LP cover being the cover of the book. Another favorite painting is the one with a Buddy Holly looking character gracing a tour shirt of Joni's. I can't recall tour and picture may be in a songbook I don't have. The song that is most moving to me is The Sire of Sorrow......but I struggle with religion and free will, and had the church crammed down my throat as a child. The song is one of very few I never get tired of hearing. The delivery of the performance seems exceptionally real .... to me. I didn't feel that way about anything onTTT. take care, Maurice ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 15:06:11 +0100 From: "Peter Holmstedt" Subject: James Taylor Symphonic Tour 1999 James Taylor Symphonic Tour : The symphonic tour officially began Wednesday night in Rochester. The set list: "The Water Is Wide," Secret O' Life," "Only a Dream In Rio," "Can't Take That Away From Me," "Valentine's Day," "Another Day," "Jump Up Behind Me," "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face," "Never Never Land," "Enough To Be On Your Way," "Millworker," "Country Road," "Frozen Man," "Fascinatin' Rhythm," "Our Love Is Here To Stay," "Diamond Joe," "Carolina In My Mind," "You've Got a Friend," "The Way You Look Tonight," "Fire And Rain," "Sweet Baby James." Band members: Steve Gadd (drums), Jimmy Johnson (bass), and Clifford Carter (keyboards). TOUR DATES http://www.james-taylor.com/tour/ 1999 Oct. 4 Philadelphia, PA Academy of Music Phone: 215-893-1999 With the Philadelphia Orchestra ON SALE NOW Oct. 6, 8, 9 Baltimore, MD Meyerhoff Symphony Hall Phone: 410-783-8000 $35-$80 SOLD OUT Oct. 11 Washington, D.C. Kennedy Center Phone: 1-800-444-1324 $45-$85 SOLD OUT Oct. 13, 15, 16 Pittsburgh, PA Heinz Hall Phone: 412-392-4900 $24-$90 With the Pittsburgh Symphony SOLD OUT Oct. 18, 19 Columbus, OH Ohio Theater Phone: 614-431-3600 ON SALE NOW Oct. 21, 23, 24 Detroit, MI With the Detroit Symphony Orchestra SOLD OUT Oct. 26 Grand Rapids, MI DeVos Hall Phone: 616-454-9451 ON SALE OCT. 2 AT 10 A.M. Oct. 27 Toledo, OH Stranahan Theater Phone: 800-348-1253 $35-$100 With the Toledo Symphony SOLD OUT Oct. 29, 30 Chicago, IL Orchestra Hall Phone: 312-294-3000 With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra SOLD OUT Nov. 8, 9, 11 Dallas, TX Meyerson Symphony Center With the Dallas Symphony SOLD OUT Nov. 13 Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth Convention Center Theatre Phone: 817-665-6000 With the Fort Worth Symphony Pops Orchestra SOLD OUT Nov. 14 Phoenix, AZ Phoenix Symphony Center Phone: 602-262-7272 ON SALE NOW Nov. 17, 18 Houston, TX Jones Hall Phone: 713-629-3700 With the Houston Symphony Nov. 20, 21 San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre Price: $25-$75 Phone: 210-554-1010 With the San Antonio Symphony SOLD OUT Nov. 23, 24 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre Phone: 404-733-4800 With the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra ON SALE OCT. 18 ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 15:11:21 +0100 From: "Peter Holmstedt" Subject: Michael McDermott Open for business Michael McDermott finds that the indie life can be rewarding   By Dan Kening   Michael McDermott may only be 30, but he's a veteran of the rock 'n' roll roller coaster. Having released the first of his three major label albums at the tender age of 20, he's finding that life after the corporate music business stops calling can, if anything, be even more fulfilling. The newly-released "Bourbon Blue" is not only McDermott's first independent release, it's also the most fully-realized of his four albums. Self-produced and released on his own Wanted Man label, the album's songs are full of colorful characters in the best musical story-telling tradition. Stylistically, the songs showcase the south suburban native's wide range -- from flat-out rockers like "20 Miles South of Nowhere" and "Jezebel" to ballads and songs that touch on his Irish-American roots. "With the previous albums I would get so tense when they were released that I'd be in a state of total mental paralysis," says McDermott. "I'd get so caught up in how many radio stations were playing them each week, and whether the record company still liked me. Now it's totally my deal, and it's fun. It's like having a business -- like having your own lemonade stand. "It's very Pavlovian: you sell a record and the money goes right back into your pocket. I never made a dime when I was on a major label. I was a million dollars in debt. A million dollars! Now I'm only $20,000 down and have made half that back already. My goal used to be to play the Rosemont Horizon. Now it's to move out of my parents' house and get an apartment again." When McDermott's debut album "620 West Surf" came out in 1991, he was hailed as "the next" Dylan or Springsteen -- two sloppy comparisons bandied about by record company flacks that are often the kiss of death for young singer-songwriters. "(Those comparisons) were harmful in a lot of ways," says McDermott in retrospect. "Yeah, that first record was pretty Bruce-like. But you can't write and censor yourself at the same time. Now if I write something that's a little like Springsteen I just giggle and go with it. And Dylan, I get a major hard-on when people compare me to Dylan. That's what I aspire to be as a songwriter." Early reaction to "Bourbon Blue" has been encouraging. Released three years after the unfairly-ignored "Michael McDermott," which featured liner notes by author (and major McDermott fan) Stephen King, that response is appreciated by McDermott. "I used to write these anthemic, fist-raising kinds of songs," he says. "Now I'd rather write these little character studies about some of the strange people I know and hang out with. The fact that people can relate to these songs gives me faith in humanity." Michael McDermott plays October 16 at FitzGerald's, 6615 W. Roosevelt Rd., Berwyn (708-788-2118) and November 3 at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport Ave. (773-525-2508) in a Metromix Live Web cast. Kening is editor of Reverb ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 09:48:36 EDT From: TerryM2442@aol.com Subject: Re: James Taylor Symphonic Tour 1999 (NJC) In a message dated 10/3/1999 9:17:36 AM Eastern Daylight Time, peter.holmstedt@telia.com writes: << The symphonic tour officially began Wednesday night in Rochester. >> If anyone sees it, please let us know. I'd love to hear a review. Terry ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 10:46:46 -0500 From: Mark Domyancich Subject: Re: FTR songbook - paintings I've seen a picture of Joel Bernstein and Joni singing a song during concert, and Joel had a t-shirt with CSNY's So Far cover painting on the front. Could this be it? (BTW, Joel looks nothing like Buddy!) :D At 6:46 AM -0400 10/3/99, MP123A321@aol.com wrote: >This one of the few songbooks without the LP cover being the cover of the >book. Another favorite painting is the one with a Buddy Holly looking >character gracing a tour shirt of Joni's. I can't recall tour and picture may >be in a songbook I don't have. ___________________________________ | Mark Domyancich | | Harpua@revealed.net | | http://home.revealed.net/Harpua | |_________________________________| ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 11:45:11 From: Lisa Kowalski Subject: Joni's Brilliance Robert..What a beautiful post! Since I was 16(I'm now 47) I knew how incredibly brilliant Joni was(and still is!) I will always be amazed and uplifted by her beautiful lyrics(yes I really do LISTEN to those words!)When the world becomes too much to bear at times I do exactly what Jennifer did and allow Joni to "cradle" me.Joni has helped me thru much despair in my life and has been a great source of emotional nurturing when no one else was around or when no one else seemed to truly understand what I was feeling or what I needed.All I can say is that I love Joni dearly... Lisa NP: The Same Situation ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 12:01:10 From: Lisa Kowalski Subject: Chair In The Sky Does anyone know what "Mutts of the planet,And shook me down for alibis" from A Chair In The Sky means? I have tried to figure it out but I have no clue what Joni's talking about? Thanks...Lisa ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 15:19:16 EDT From: Ginamu@aol.com Subject: Re: Joni's Brilliance Hi Lisa! It's great to hear from you on the list again! I hope you're well. Keep those posts coming. We're all the richer for it, IMO. :} Take care, Gina ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 03 Oct 1999 15:05:16 From: Lisa Kowalski Subject: She's Come Undone(JC) i just finished reading She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb and Joni and one of her songs is mentioned in the book.The main character Dolores Price is riding in their car with her mother.Her mother starts singing along with the radio"Its clowns illusions I recall,I really don't know clowns..." "It's clouds illusions" Dolores says between clenched teeth."It's clouds illusions I recall.If you're going to sing it,sing it right!" Later on in the book,Dolores is talking to Naomi,one of her classmates in college. Naomi is describing her experience at Woodstock with Joni(I guess the author Wally Lamb didnt know Joni wasnt there!)Anyway Naomi said"I was two people back from Joni Mitchell in the portable toilet line" then Dolores said "Joni Mitchell used the public toilets?" and Naomi replied,"Well yeah.See the whole point was that we're all one,you know? You and me and Joni and your tall skinny friend:a bunch of equals sharing the same small planet.It was a rush-very political!" Even though we know Joni wasnt there I still loved that the author mentioned her and the song Both Sides Now in his book! If you ever have the time I highly recommend this book.It chronicles the life of Dolores from a child thru adulthood full of adversity and incredibly difficult times and it is told in a way(Dolores narrates) that is very comical,heartbreaking ,and touching.It's one of the best books I've read in a long time(I couldnt put it down)It's 465 pages long(paperback) and I read it in 3 days! It will have you laughing and crying and rooting for Dolores thru out the book! Take Care... Lisa ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 14:25:26 -0700 From: "Mark or Travis" Subject: Re: Chair In The Sky > Does anyone know what "Mutts of the planet,And shook me down for > alibis" from A Chair In The Sky means? I have tried to figure it out but I > have no clue what Joni's talking about? > > Thanks...Lisa > Hi Lisa. I was never too sure about the 'mutts of the planet' line. The only thing that ever came into my head was maybe she was referring to the old saying 'raining cats & dogs'. The rest of the line is part of the thought process Joni imagines Mingus going through as he contemplates the approaching end of his life. The man is terminally ill and probably at this point isn't able to go anywhere or do very much. Held to that 'chair in the sky', he is sitting looking out the window of a NYC apartment or hospital room when it starts to rain. His mood is reflective and melancholy. As he assesses his life he searches for 'alibis or excuses for some of the things that he maybe isn't too proud of or for failing to accomplish or do everything he wanted to - 'there's things I wish I'd done'...'beautiful lovers I never got the chance to kiss'. He also imagines his afterlife, dreaming of the success and acclaim that he feels have eluded him in this world. Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 17:51:38 -0500 From: "James A. Murray" Subject: Joni listed at #5 in the top 100 women in "rock" on VH1 I assume you all heard Joni listed at #5 in the top 100 women in "rock" on VH1. jimbo ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 3 Oct 1999 19:27:45 -0700 From: "Kakki" Subject: Re: "Brand New Day" -- Sting's Latest Rips & Wrecks (NJC) I'm coming in a little late on this topic but really enjoyed Don's excellent and interesting review of the new Sting album. In fact, the things that may have put off Don a bit served to intrigue me and made me more anxious to pick it up, including these amusing comments: > At times schizophrenically disjointed, at others > brilliant in it's weaving of styles as disparate at > jazz and country, world beat and swing, rock and > Arabic plainsong. > If you'd pay a top dollar for a > concert with Maynard Ferguson, Ladysmith Black > Mambaso, William Orbit, Prince and Garth Brooks > sharing the stage -- you'll probably like the whole > thing After several listens, I'm just loving the whole album more and more. I'd had some previews of the songs on our local 101.3 station here - and remember first hearing the song "Brand New Day" at work and exclaiming "It's a new Stevie...no, it's a new Sting...no, it's Stevie and Sting...ooooooh!!" I'm generally not crazy about the latest trend of Arabic music being the new hip, but I think he pulls if off beautifully on this album. I also love him doing Country with James Taylor on "Fill Her Up". I find the album quietly exotic, somewhat muted and moody, very atmospheric and it grows on me more with each listen. It's good, it's *real* good. > Overall grade: B- I'd give it at least a B+/A- Kakki NP: Sting - "Brand New Day" ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 4 Oct 1999 00:37:26 -0300 From: "Wally Kairuz" Subject: Joni mentioned in opera rag!!!! The vibrato mob loves Joni! In a survey on "What's the greatest voice you ever heard?" in September's issue of Opera News, American mezzo-soprano Susanne Mentzer [a singer of some renown -- she sang Octavian in Buenos Aires a couple of years ago] declared: "...the ones that have touched me the most...are Eileen Farrell, Kathleen Ferrier, Jo Stafford and Joni Mitchell. [snip] I love what Joni Mitchell can do with her voice -- the instrumental quality and the twists and turns and highs that she can reach." Hey, I thought she was talking about me... WallyK ------------------------------ End of JMDL Digest V4 #443 ************************** The Song and Album Voting Booths are open! Cast your votes by clicking the links at http://www.jmdl.com/gallery username: jimdle password: siquomb ------- Don't forget about these ongoing projects: Glossary project: Send a blank message to for all the details. FAQ Project: Help compile the JMDL FAQ. Do you have mailing list-related questions? -send them to Trivia Project: Send your Joni trivia questions and/or answers to Today in History Project: Know of a date-specific Joni fact? - -send it to ------- Post messages to the list at Unsubscribe by sending "unsubscribe joni-digest" to ------- Siquomb, isn't she?